Philippines to deport alleged fraudsters to Taiwan, China

2012/09/14 22:37:54

Manila, Philippines Sept. 14 (CNA) A total of 385 Taiwanese and Chinese people arrested in the Philippines for alleged phone fraud will be deported back to their countries after one person died from dengue fever while in detention, a Philippines official said Friday.

Ma. Antonette Mangrobang, a spokesman for the Bureau of Immigration, said the Department of Justice has instructed the bureau to deport the alleged fraudsters, who were arrested Aug. 23 following a tipoff from Taiwan, back to their own countries.

Of the 385 people, 318 are Taiwanese, while the others are Chinese. They are all being detained in a gym on a police camp in Laguna, central Luzon.

A plan to deport the Taiwanese suspects on Sept. 12 was aborted after Philippine President Benigno Aquino III ordered the Department of Justice to open an investigation into their alleged crimes.

However, the investigation was dropped after three of them fell ill with dengue fever because of the poor sanitation conditions in the gym. One of the people died later.

Several Taiwanese have been accused of attacking guards while in detention. They will not be deported, as they may have to face criminal charges for their actions.